Office dictation/transcription machine

ABSTRACT

An office dictation/transcription machine of the type employing magnetic tape as the sound carrier. The machine has a main unit provided with erasing and playback/record heads and has a plurality of jacks electrically connected to the playback/record head and to the erasing head for the operative connection to the main unit of an accessory capable of activating the erasing head.

United States Patent Emmert May 28, 1974 OFFICE DlCTATION/TRANSCRIPTION3,060,278 10/1962 Parris 179/1002 R MACHINE 3,636,271 1 1972 Rodenbeck179/1001 D R 3,671,683 6/1972 Rahenkamp et al..... l79/l()0.l D R [75]Inventor: Reinhold Emmert, Furth, Germany [73] Assignee: Grundig E.M.V.Elektro Mechanische versuch t lt M Primary ExaminerAlfred H. EddlemanGrundig, Furth, Germany Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker [22]Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 297,259

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 061. 1, 1971Germany 2149046 An Office dictation/transcription machine of the ypemploying magnetic tape as the sound carrier. The [52 us. 01 360/90,360/62, 360/74 machine has a mai it p o ided with erasing and [51] Int.Cl Gllb 15/10, Gllb 27/36 p y k/r ord heads and has a plurality of jacks[58] Field of Search 179/1002 R, 100.1 DR, electrically connected to theplayback/re rd head 179/1002 MI), 100,1 VC and to the erasing head forthe operative connection to the main unit of an accessory capable ofactivating References Cited the erasing head.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,611,037 9/1952 D6 Napoli, Jr 179/1001 D R 6Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ATENTEUMAY28 1974 (1813.691

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1 OFFICE DICTATION/TRANSCRIPIION MACHINE The invention relates to acassette tape recorder to which various accessories can be added, andwhich can operate either as a playback machine only, or as aplayback/record machine, upon the addition of various plug-inattachments.

It is well known that office dictation equipment is usually soconstructed that it can be used both for dictation and fortranscription. However, office transcription machines are also knownwhich are capable only of playback operation, being intended solely foruse by the typist-transcriber. This latter type of machine often has nocapability whatsoever for being used for dictation purposes.

The existence of these two types of office dictating/- transcribingmachines requires a careful evaluation of predicted needs when an officeorders this kind of equipment. Usually, for example, more transcribing(playback) machines are required than dictating (record/playback)machines, because it is not uncommon for several typists to be requiredto transcribe the dictation of the user of a single dictating machine.Selfevidently, it is more economical to order only those machines thatare actually required for the purpose of the office; that is, it is moreeconomical to order machines capable only of playback if in fact that isthe only use to which such machines will be put. Realistically, however,this kind of careful estimation of the dictating/transcribing needs ofan office is somewhat difficult, and very seldom bothered with. Instead,it is more usual for an office to order only machines that can be usedfor both playback and recording, to avoid decision making even thoughthe cost of the equipment is more than in fact need be spent. It is notuncommon for an office to have many dictating (playback record) machineswhich are never used for anything but playback purposes duringtransscription.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an officedictation/transcription machine comprising a main unit which is assimple and inexpensive as possible, and which costs little or no morethan a pure playback unit, but which by the addition of suitableattachments can be used either for playback purposes only or else forplayback/recording purposes. Specifically, it is contemplated to providean office tape recorder which can be used for transcription whenconnected with suitable attachments such as footpedal and earphones, orwhich can be used for dictating purposes when connected with a suitablemicrophone unit. Advantageously, the invention also goes beyond theprovision of a detachable microphone, and additionally contemplates theprovision of a microphone attachment which actually includes thatportion of the electronic circuitry which would be superfluous in amachine needed only for playback purposes.

These objects. and others which will become more understandable below,can be met according to one embodiment of the invention, by providing anoffice dictation/transcription machine of the type employing magnetictape as sound carrier. Advantageously, the machine comprises a main unitprovided with erasing and playback/record heads and having a pluralityof jacks electrically connected to the playback/record and erasing headsfor the operative connection to the main unit of an accessory capable ofactivating the erasing head.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dictating/transcribing machineaccording to the invention, showing the main unit and an attachmentconnected to the main unit to convert the machine into a playbackmachine adapted for office transcription purposes;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dictating/transcribing machine ofFIG. 1, but showing a different attachment connected to the main unitfor converting the machine into an office dictating machine capable ofboth recording and playback;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main machine unit shown in FIGS. 1and 2, and also showing the attachments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, butdisconnected from the main machine unit; and

FIG. 3a is a circuit diagram of some of the circuitry of the main unitand the attachments, and also showing the manner in which electricalconnections are made between the main unit and its attachments.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described.

FIG. 1 shows the dictating/transcribing machine of the invention whenused for playback-transcription purposes only. Themachine includes amain unit 1 including a conventional erase head 2. Connected to the mainunit 1 by means of a multiple-plug unit 3 are a foot-pedal attachment 4and an earphone attachment FIG. 2 shows the dictating/transcribingmachine of the invention when used for purposes of dictation. The mainunit I shown in FIG. 1 is also used in FIG. 2. However, in FIG. 2 adictating microphone 6 is connected to main unitby means of anothermultiple-plug unit 3'. The dictating microphone 6 is provided with aremotecontrol switch 7, a switch for selecting playback and recordoperations, and the conventional pick-up transducer 24. In theillustrated embodiment, the dictating microphone unit 6 furthermoreincludes the actual amplifying circuitry for the pick-up transducer,namely that circuitry which is ordinarily not included in the microphoneunit but rather in the main body of the tape recorder.

The main unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 additionally includes arecord/playback head 10 and a tape supply reel 11 carrying magnetic tape12, as well as a take-up reel 13. The tape and spools can, inconventional manner, be packaged together in casette form, as indicatedby the provision of dotted lines 27 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 shows the main unit 1, and also shows the attachments shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, but disconnected from main unit I. It will be noted thateach of multipleplug units 3 and 3 are provided with a plurality ofplugs which are received in corresponding jacks of a plugging panel 14on the main unit. Also, each multiple-plug unit 3 and 3 includes aseparating pin 22, seen in FIG. 3, whose purpose will become clearer inthe discussion of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3a shows some of the circuitry of the main unit 1, and themicrophone unit 6, as well as the manner of connection of the variousattachments to main unit 1.

A non-illustrated source of electrical energy, for instance a battery,is connected across ground terminal 16 and terminal 15 of main unit 1.Numeral l7 designates the playback amplifying circuitry of the mainunit 1. Numeral l8 designates a DC. motor employed to drive the magnetictape, and current flows through motor 18 in one or the other directionthrough a respective one of transistors 19 and 20, which are of oppositeconductivity type. Associated with the plugging panel 14 of the mainunit 1 is a pair of contacts 2], which are normally biased intoelectrical contact with each other and which, when they contact, connectplayback amplifier 17 to the biasing voltage.

If the main unit 1 is to be used only for transcription purposes, thenthe attachments which should be connected to unit 1 are the foot-pedalunit 4 and the earphone unit 5, which are in fact connected by way ofmultipleplug unit 3. In the Figure, a single multipleplug unit 3 isshown for connecting both the foot-pedal unit 4 and the earphone unit 5.However, it is also contemplated according to the invention to providetwo distinct multiple-plug units, one for the foot-pedal unit 4 only,and the other for the earphone unit 5 only, for purposes of greaterflexibility in use.

It will be noted from FIG. 30 that both multiple-plug units 3 and 3' areprovided with a separating pin 22 of electrically insulating material.When either of units 3 and 3' is plugged into plugging panel 14, theseparating pin 22 will enter between electrical contacts 21 andphysically and electrically separate them. An electrical connection inmultiple-plu g unit 3 electrically connects the plugs e andf shown inFIG. So, for closing the current circuit for the playback amplifier 17.The plugs b, 6' connect the earphone unit 5 to main unit 1, while theplugs i, k and 1 connect the foot-pedal unit 4 to the unit 1. Remotecontrol by means of foot-pedal unit 4 is effected in known manner uponclosing and opening of the electrical contacts contained in thefoot-pedal unit. In conventional manner, the foot-pedal unit 4 iscapable of initiating stop, start, and rewind operations, for example,by the simple expedient of disconnecting, reconnecting or reversing thecurrent supply to the motor l8.

If the unit I is to be used for dictation purposes, which require amachine capable of both recording and playback, the microphoneattachment 6 will be connected to unit 1 by means of multiple-plugunit-3. The microphone unit 6 contains a pick-up transducer 24,amplifying circuitry for amplifying the signal generated by thetransducer, a remotecontrol switch 7, and a record/playbackmode-selection switch 8 which simultaneously operates switching contacts8, 8' and 8". An indicator lamp 26 is provided on the microphone 6 andprovides a visual indication of the setting of modeselection switch 8.When multiple-plug unit 3' is plugged into the jacks of plugging panel14, separating pin 22 separates the electrical contacts 21. The playbackamplifier l7 of main unit 1 is connected with switching contact 8" bymeans of plugs e" and fswitching contact 8" being activated by playback-/record mode-selection switch 8. As just mentioned, switching contacts8' and -8" are activated simultaneously with contact 8"The switchingpositions of contacts 8', 8" and 8" shown in FIG. 3a correspond to theplayback setting of mode-selection switch 8. In

this position contact 8' via plugs b and c" connects transducer 24 withthe amplifier 17 of the main unit 1. Furthermore, contact 8' connectsthe plugs e and j" and thereby assures a supply of current for theplayback amplifier l7, so that the machine is operative for playback.Remote control switch 7 on microphone 6 is connected with main unit 1via plugs i, k and I and controls the start, stop and rewind operationsin conventional manner.

If mode-selection switch 8 is used to select the record mode, then bymeans of switching contact 8' of the microphone transducer 24 will beconnected to the transducer amplifier 9 which, by reason of the smallsize of modem-day electronic circuitry, can be readily incor porated forinstance in the stem of the microphone. Simultaneously, via contact 8"the current supply to playback amplifier [7 will be interrupted, whereascurrent will instead be furnished to the transducer amplifier 9 and thecontrol lamp 26. Furthermore, by means of switching contact 8", therecord/playback head 10 via plug d" and erasing head 2 via plug g" willbe connected to the pick-up amplifier 9 and the current supply. Remotecontrol of the recorder via switch 7 is possible in the record mode, andin the same manner with the foot-pedal unit 4 the remote control switch7 can effect start, stop and rewind operations.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstruction differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anoffice dictation/transcription machine, it is not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic of specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended I. An office dictation/transcription machineof the type employing magnetic tape as sound carrier, comprising, incombination, a main unit including erasing and playback/record headmeans, transporting means for transporting a tape past said erasing andplayback- Irecord head means and including drive means for driving saidtransporting means, playback amplifier means having an inputelectrically connected to said playback/record head means, currentsource means connected to said drive means and to said playbackamplifier means, and a single socket arrangement comprised of aplurality of electrical terminals connected to the aforesaid means; adictation attachment unit including microphone means, remote controlmeans for the remote control of said drive means and a single respectivefirst plug arrangement comprised of a plurality of terminals spatiallydisposed in correspondence to the spatial disposition of at least someof the terminals of said socket arrangement and configurated tobe-detachably connected as a whole to said single socket arrangement inplug-in fashion, and respective first electric circuit means connectingthe terminals of said first plug arrangement with said microphone meansand with said remote control means to establish operative electricalconnections between said means of said dictation attachment unit andsaid means of said main unit when said first plug arrangement isconnected to said socket arrangement in plug-in fashion; and atranscribers attachment unit including an earphone arrangement comprisedof sound-reproducing means, remotecontrol footpedal means forcontrolling the operation of said drive means, and a respective secondsingle plug arrangement comprised of a plurality of terminals spatiallydisposed in correspondence to the spatial disposition of at least someof the terminals of said socket arrangement and configurated to bedetachably connected as a whole to said single socket arrangement inplug-in fashion, and respective sound electric circuit means connectingthe terminals of said second plug arrangement with saidsound-reproducing means of said transcribers attachment unit and withsaid remotecontrol footpedal means of said transcribers attachment unitto establish operative electrical connections between said means of saidtranscribers attachment unit and said means of said main unit when saidsecond plug arrangement is connected to said socket arrangement inplug-in fashion whereby said socket arrangement of said main unit cancooperate with either said first plug arrangement or said second plugarrangement for use of said main unit alternatively for dictation ortranscription purposes.

2. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said main unit furtherincludes a pair of electrical contacts connecting said playbackamplifier means to said current source means. said pair of electricalcontacts being normally biased into engagement with each other and beingpositioned behind said socket arrangement accessible through an openingin said socket arrangement, and wherein one of said attachment unitsincludes a separating prong which spreads apart said pair of electricalcontacts to interrupt the connection between said playback amplifiermeans and said current source means when the plug arrangement of therespective one of said attachment units is plugged into said socketarrangement, and wherein such respective one of said attachment units isprovided with a switch having two terminals which become connected torespective ones of said pair of contacts when the respective plugarrangement is plugged into said socket arrangement, said switch beingoperative for establishing or interrupting the connection of saidplayback amplifier means to said current source means.

3. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means is capableof stop, start and rewind operations, and wherein the remote-controlmeans of at least one of said attachment units comprises means operativewhen the plug arrangement of the respective attachment unit is pluggedinto said socket arrangement for initiating stop. start and rewindoperations of said drive means.

4. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein remotecontrol means of saiddictation attachment unit further includes mode-selecting switch meansoperative when said first plug arrangement is plugged into said socketarrangement for alternatively selecting playback and record modes ofoperation for said office dictation/- transcription machine.

5. The machine defined in claim I, wherein said microphone means of saiddictation attachment unit includes a microphone transducer andmicrophone amplifying circuit means having an electrical input connectedto said microphone transducer and having an electrical output connectedto said playback/record head means when said first plug arrangement isplugged into said socket arrangement for energizing said playback/recordhead means.

6. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said remote control means ofsaid dictation attachment unit comprises means operative when said firstplug arrangement is plugged into said socket arrangement foralternatively selecting playback and record modes of operation of saidoffice dictation/transcription machine and means operative when saidfirst plug arrangement is plugged into said socket arrangement foralternatively causing said drive means to transport tape in either afirst or an opposite second direction, and wherein said microphone meansof said dictation attachmcnt comprises a microphone transducer andmicrophone amplifier means having an input connected to said microphonetransducer and having an output which becomes connected to saidplayback/record head means when said first plug arrangement is pluggedinto said socket arrangement.

1. An office dictation/transcription machine of the type employingmagnetic tape as sound carrier, comprising, in combination, a main unitincluding erasing and playback/record head means, transporting means fortransporting a tape past said erasing and playback/record head means andincluding drive means for driving said transporting means, playbackamplifier means having an input electrically connected to saidplayback/record head means, current source means connected to said drivemeans and to said playback amplifier means, and a single socketarrangement comprised of a plurality of electrical terminals connectedto the aforesaid means; a dictation attachment unit including microphonemeans, remote control means for the remote control of said drive meansand a single respective first plug arrangement comprised of a pluralityof terminals spatially disposed in correspondence to the spatialdisposition of at least some of the terminals of said socket arrangementand configurated to be detachably connected as a whole to said singlesocket arrangement in plug-in fashion, and respective first electriccircuit means connecting the terminals of said first plug arrangementwith said microphone means and with said remote control means toestablish operative electrical connections between said means of saiddictation attachment unit and said means of said main unit when saidfirst plug arrangement is connected to said socket arrangement inplug-in fashion; and a transcriber''s attachment unit including anearphone arrangement comprised of sound-reproducing means,remote-control footpedal means for controlling the operation of saiddrive means, and a respective second single plug arrangement comprisedof a plurality of terminals spatially disposed in correspondence to thespatial disposition of at least some of the terminals of said socketarrangement and configurated to be detachably connected as a whole tosaid single socket arrangement in plug-in fashion, and respective soundelectric circuit means connecting the termInals of said second plugarrangement with said sound-reproducing means of said transcriber''sattachment unit and with said remotecontrol footpedal means of saidtranscriber''s attachment unit to establish operative electricalconnections between said means of said transcriber''s attachment unitand said means of said main unit when said second plug arrangement isconnected to said socket arrangement in plug-in fashion, whereby saidsocket arrangement of said main unit can cooperate with either saidfirst plug arrangement or said second plug arrangement for use of saidmain unit alternatively for dictation or transcription purposes.
 2. Themachine defined in claim 1, wherein said main unit further includes apair of electrical contacts connecting said playback amplifier means tosaid current source means, said pair of electrical contacts beingnormally biased into engagement with each other and being positionedbehind said socket arrangement accessible through an opening in saidsocket arrangement, and wherein one of said attachment units includes aseparating prong which spreads apart said pair of electrical contacts tointerrupt the connection between said playback amplifier means and saidcurrent source means when the plug arrangement of the respective one ofsaid attachment units is plugged into said socket arrangement, andwherein such respective one of said attachment units is provided with aswitch having two terminals which become connected to respective ones ofsaid pair of contacts when the respective plug arrangement is pluggedinto said socket arrangement, said switch being operative forestablishing or interrupting the connection of said playback amplifiermeans to said current source means.
 3. The machine defined in claim 1,wherein said drive means is capable of stop, start and rewindoperations, and wherein the remote-control means of at least one of saidattachment units comprises means operative when the plug arrangement ofthe respective attachment unit is plugged into said socket arrangementfor initiating stop, start and rewind operations of said drive means. 4.The machine defined in claim 1, wherein remote-control means of saiddictation attachment unit further includes mode-selecting switch meansoperative when said first plug arrangement is plugged into said socketarrangement for alternatively selecting playback and record modes ofoperation for said office dictation/transcription machine.
 5. Themachine defined in claim 1, wherein said microphone means of saiddictation attachment unit includes a microphone transducer andmicrophone amplifying circuit means having an electrical input connectedto said microphone transducer and having an electrical output connectedto said playback/record head means when said first plug arrangement isplugged into said socket arrangement for energizing said playback/recordhead means.
 6. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said remotecontrol means of said dictation attachment unit comprises meansoperative when said first plug arrangement is plugged into said socketarrangement for alternatively selecting playback and record modes ofoperation of said office dictation/transcription machine and meansoperative when said first plug arrangement is plugged into said socketarrangement for alternatively causing said drive means to transport tapein either a first or an opposite second direction, and wherein saidmicrophone means of said dictation attachment comprises a microphonetransducer and microphone amplifier means having an input connected tosaid microphone transducer and having an output which becomes connectedto said playback/record head means when said first plug arrangement isplugged into said socket arrangement.